2025 Gathering Presentations

“Voices That Bridge Generations: Wisdom and Inspiration from the Camino

We are excited to announce four of our amazing speakers for the 2025 Gathering. This diverse group of speakers embody the spirit of the Camino, sharing insights that connect past and present, wisdom and journey. 

Check back on this page as we release the full program for the 2025 Gathering

Here are four of our speakers:

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H.E. Alfredo Martinez, Ambassador of Spain to Canada and Honorary Patron to the Canadian Company of Pilgrims

Keynote Presentation: The Camino de Santiago: Connecting Europe, Connecting the World

Ambassador Alfredo Martínez Serrano, representing the Kingdom of Spain in Canada, brings a wealth of diplomatic experience and a deep personal connection to the Camino de Santiago. As a pilgrim who has walked the Camino Primitivo from his hometown of Oviedo, he understands the Camino’s unique ability to unite people across borders.

In this keynote, he explores how the Camino has fostered cultural connections across Europe for over a thousand years and its growing role in connecting people worldwide, with special attention to the strong bond between Spain and Canada’s Camino associations.

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George Greenia

Presentation: Spooky Remains: How Pilgrims and Monasteries Met their Ends

George Greenia, Professor Emeritus of Modern Languages at William & Mary, co-founded the university’s Program in Medieval & Renaissance Studies and founded the Institute for Pilgrimage Studies. A renowned scholar of medieval Spain and the Camino de Santiago, George was knighted by the King of Spain and awarded the Cross of the Order of Isabel la Católica.

Join him as he explores the mysterious world of medieval pilgrim tombs and the eerie remains of abandoned monasteries along the Camino, revealing what these relics tell us about their haunting histories.

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Rebekah Scott

Presentation: Wisdom of the Elders: A Bridge We Cross Together

Rebekah Scott, an American expatriate journalist and award-winning Camino advocate, lives in Moratinos, Spain. She has been a hospitalera, author, guide, translator, and activist, dedicated to preserving the Camino’s traditions.

In her presentation, Rebekah explores the ancient wisdom of the Camino, reminding us it is not a holiday hike but a sacred journey of transformation. Drawing on a millennium of pilgrim experience, she highlights the importance of moving beyond self-focus to connect with others, the Earth, and the divine. Her insights guide pilgrims to carry the light of the Camino into their lives beyond the path.

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Laurie Dennett

Presentation: ‘Preparing the Great Invasion’: Elias Valiña and the Revival of the Pilgrimage to Compostela

Laurie Dennett, historian, author of A Hug for the Apostle, and 1986 Camino pilgrim, has dedicated her life to the Camino. Now living near O Cebreiro, she draws on her personal friendship with Elias Valiña Sampedro, the visionary behind the modern Camino revival.

As parish priest of O Cebreiro, Valiña restored the Camino Francés through guidebooks, maps, and the iconic yellow arrows, blending scholarship with action. Laurie shares his story and his tireless efforts to revive the Camino’s history, culture, and infrastructure, paving the way for today’s global pilgrimage movement.